![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
In a significant move towards bolstering agricultural innovation across Africa, Ghana has been chosen as the host nation for a new Pan-African Agritech Hub.
The initiative, which is part of the Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund, aims to transform the agricultural landscape through technology-enabled solutions.
The announcement came following a meeting between President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and key stakeholders, including His Excellency Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria.
The leaders according to former VP Osinbajo in a post via his Instagram page, gathered not to indulge in the usual “Jollof wars,” but to discuss the promising future of agritech in the region.
President Akufo-Addo, who has been a fervent supporter of the Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund since its inauguration at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, reiterated his unwavering commitment to the project.
“It was really great to spend time with my brother and friend, His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana. On the menu? Not Jollof wars (sorry, everyone). Instead, we served up the proposed Agritech Hub in Ghana, part of the Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund—the world’s largest initiative to support the African innovation ecosystem.
“President Akufo-Addo has been a committed champion of the fund since its inauguration, which he attended in Davos this year, and he reiterated his firm commitment and support for the fund’s work. The Agritech Hub, designed as a Pan-African center of excellence for tech-enabled agriculture, will benefit from Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs and E-Agric programs, while also leveraging the country’s status as the headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA),” Osinbajo said.
The Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund is recognized as the world’s largest initiative dedicated to supporting the African innovation ecosystem. By establishing the Agritech Hub in Ghana, the fund aims to harness the potential of technology to address critical challenges in agriculture, from improving crop yields to optimizing supply chains and reducing waste.
As the project progresses, the Agritech Hub is expected to attract significant investment, foster research and development, and promote knowledge sharing among African nations. This collaborative effort marks a new era of agricultural innovation, with Ghana at the forefront of this transformative journey.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
